His Other Life - Beth Thomas

His Other Life by Beth Thomas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The story of a couple with seemingly perfect lives…and the secrets they hide behind closed doors.

Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Jo Jo Moyes.

He was hiding a terrible secret . . .

Grace’s new husband Adam seems like the perfect package. Good looking, great job, completely charming – almost too good to be true . . .

So when Adam suddenly disappears from Grace’s life, she is left bewildered and heartbroken. And with a lot of unanswered questions.

As she tries desperately to find him, Grace opens a Pandora’s Box of secrets and lies – and starts to learn that Adam wasn’t so perfect after all.

What shameful secrets was her husband hiding? Is Grace in danger? And can she survive the truth? However terrible it may be . . .


Sadly this book sounded so promising but under delivered. It sounded so intriguing; Graces husband Adam seemed like the perfect package. We are told that he is hiding a terrible secret, what could it be? The seemingly perfect man, good looking, good job, charming, everything a woman could want but it seems that beneath the surface secrets and lies were hiding. It's not until Adam suddenly disappears that Grace starts to unravel the truth about her husband and I for one was really hooked on finding out what the terrible secret was.

Unfortunately although this was a good plot line the characterisation was so weak and unbelievable that the story had little chance of succeeding for me. The plot line was slow, sometimes laboriously so and I must confess that I skim read from about
a quarter into the book.

I had worked out what was happening on early into the book but kept reading as I was not sure if there would be a twist or a curve ball somewhere but there wasn't. It was well written but just a bit boring and predictable for me so I felt a sense of anti-climax at the end and had the feeling that it wasn't worth the read which was a shame.

I can only give this 3 stars - I can't honestly say I enjoyed it - it was just OK but not a memorable read. Sorry Beth.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Cowshed Knackered Cow Relaxing Body Lotion

Cowshed Knackered Cow Relaxing Body Lotion

What they say:

So, your alarm has gone off, you’ve made it out of bed (just!) and you’re struggling to deal with the fact that the weekend isn’t yet in sight. We feel ya! When you’re burnt out and longing for the extra hour in bed, the Cowshed Knackered Cow range will lift you out of exhaustion and into the real world thanks to its blend of calming lavender and uplifting eucalyptus. Post-shower, slather on the Knackered Cow Body Lotion to awaken your senses while the finest shea and cocoa butters work to moisturise and tone the skin.(Taken from Birchbox website.) 

What I think:

To be honest this suits me down to the ground with it's name, I cam constantly knackered after work and I have used this after showering in the evening. The slight lavender sent really has relaxed me and made me ready for bed. To be honest I think this has been the best product in my Birchbox this month. full price is £18 and you get 300ml for that, which is a decent size. Would I be buying this when mine runs out? I think I would, it is a lovely product, which makes my skin silky and smooth. I cannot wait to try out Cowshed's other products. 

You can purchase this from the Birchbox website: here

First One Missing - Tammy Cohen blog tour

I have been lucky enough to be offered a place on Tammy Cohen's blog tour for her new novel 'First One Missing.' I am super excited to bring you exclusive content from her, which you can read below. 

Thanks for stopping by at The Book Corner today!

Changing Genres

Q: What’s the difference between a crime writer and a non-crime writer?

A: Not much. When I first started writing fiction, I naively thought being categorised in a particular genre would be constricting. What I failed to realise was it would also be bloody handy. My first novel, The Mistress’s Revenge, was about a woman driven so crazy by the end of a love affair that she starts stalking her ex lover and his family. When people asked me (as they always did) what kind of book it was, I breezily told them ‘Contemporary women’s fiction’. ‘Oh,’ they invariably replied. ‘You mean chick lit?’ That’s when I realised how much readers love genres – and how even if you don’t categorise yourself, nine times out of ten they’ll do it for you. And not always accurately.

When The Mistress’s Revenge was published in Holland, it was marketed as a psychological thriller. It was dark. It had an undercurrent of menace. Crimes were committed. In Indonesia on the other hand, it was marketed as a romance with a pink, flowery cover (leading me to wonder whether the publisher had ever actually read it, and feel bad for readers who picked it up hoping for a bit of warm and fuzzy escapism).
The point is, readers and publishers really like genres. So it’s bonkers really that it took me another two books to work out that, actually, I quite liked them too. And not just because, without a convenient label, it was so hard to describe the types of books I wrote. I’d also realised by this time that genre writers have more fun. No really. Looking around at other writers, it was obvious the ones who ‘belonged’ in crime, or romance or fantasy, were having a wail of a time attending conventions, appearing on panels, fraternising with other writers in their genre in secret Facebook groups. Being in a genre was like being in a really cool club. My writer friend, Amanda, and I tried to establish an AGA writers (Association of Genreless Authors), just so we could have conventions and fun too. It didn’t take off.
But then something weird started happening. I noticed that most of the books I was reading were crime books, and the writers I was gravitating towards were crime writers. And then, something even weirder happened. I wrote a book called The Broken that wasn’t a whole heap different from my first three books, except I decided to call it a psychological thriller because it’s dark and sinister and because it made it easier to talk about, and no one called me a liar, and the police didn’t come to arrest me for misrepresentation. And then I wrote Dying For Christmas, which was definitely a crime book. And now First One Missing, which is also definitely a crime book. Except that as well as having crimes in them, those books are also about families and relationships and love and betrayal and lots of other things that could also place them just as easily in other genres, or back in general fiction.

So what I’m trying to say in a very roundabout way is that genre is fluid, and the same book can be interpreted in any number of ways, and books are seldom just one thing but can be lots of different things all at the same time and writers wear many different faces, even within the same book. I’m loving being classed as a ‘crime writer’, mostly because crime writers are such a welcoming bunch and always the last ones left in the bar. But - and don’t tell anyone this - in my own head, I just write ‘fiction’. Interpret that as you will.

Make sure you stop by at other stops in this tour!

Percy & Reed Smoothed, Sealed & Sensational Volumising No Oil, Oil

What they say:

So, we all know the benefits of hair oil; it protects strands, injects moisture and leaves everything looking lovely right? Right! But Percy & Reed’s Smoothed, Sealed and Sensational Volumising No Oil, Oil takes things a step further. Not only does it nourish and repair tired locks with a burst of pro vitamin B5 to strengthen and protect, it also uses violet extract to keep everything sleek while adding volume! Who’d have thought it?! It also doubles up as a nifty heat protecting treatment. A true miracle worker. (Taken from the Birchbox website)

What I think:

I was intrigued by this product when it arrived as it looks like an oil but apparently isn't one. I like to make my hair smoother but I don't like the look of oil on my hair - it leaves it greasy looking and I have to wash it the following day. This is something that didn't happen with the product, I could put it in my hair when it was wet and then blow dry it. It didn't make it less frizzy but I found my hair was softer and seems stronger. 

I would say that a little goes along way, I have found if I put too much in, then it will turn my hair greasy so really make sure you read how many drops to use. 

Will I purchase this product again? Yes I think I would, its £14 so not too expensive for an oil and it does make my hair seem softer. I only wish it could have made it less frizzy too. 

You can buy this from the Birchbox website: here

Weekly wrap up 5.7.15

This week has been a little more chilled, reports are written and I am beginning to wind down at school now. I also have another adult in my classroom, who is happy to mark and get resources ready so the workload has been split. I have felt a little more relaxed, however due to the hot weather this week I am finding it very hard to do anything but drink! Here is my weekly wrap up. 

This week I have been sent:

I knew you were trouble - Paige Toon
Some kind of Wonderful - Sarah Morgan
A Summer Breeze - Colette Caddle (won)

This week I have bought: 

Books I have read this week:

Currently reading The Good Girls by Sara Shephard

The books I have read all have reviews and they will be on the blog soon so look out for that!

Thanks for stopping by at The Book Corner, I loved  hearing what you have got this week so please leave a comment to let me know

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Tinted Moisturiser

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Tinted Moisturiser

What they say:

As skincare obsessives, there’s nothing we love more than a moisturiser with added benefits so when we heard that Caudalie had created an innovative new product combining our beloved Vinoperfect range with a little complexion coverage we were sold. The ultimate ‘all-in-one’ product, this oil-free formula not covers imperfections but cares for your skin day after day: dark spots will fade, you skin’s natural radiance will shine, and you complexion will never have looked more even!

Use in the morning, directly after cleansing. Leave as is to let your natural skin shine through or apply your usual make-up on top. (Taken from Birchbox)

What I think:

To be honest, I loved this product, it is so smooth and soft. I had a sample size and this was generous at 15 ml, the full size product is 40 ml so it wasn't that bad at all. It is slightly tinted which is perfect for the summer season and for taking on holiday with you. It feels like your skin is able to breath through the make up and makes it feel so soft once applied. 

The cost for the full size item is £27 and comes in light, medium and dark. 

I think that once I have finished the sample, I may purchase the full size. I would recommend this for the summer. 

Stainiac

theBalm® cosmetics Stainiac in Beauty Queen

What they Say: (Birchbox)

You wouldn't know it from the state of our make-up drawer, but we’re actually beauty minimalists. Our motto: why use two products when you can get the same effect with one? This two-in-one lip and cheek stain gives us a natural, understated flush and helps us get out the door faster! The gel formula looks dark in the tube but delivers a sheer tint.

The tinted gel leaves a lasting stain on lips and cheeks. Since it’s water-based, it has a longer setting time than most quick-dry stains, which means it won’t leave any unsightly streaks behind as long as you take care to blend well. Use a single coat for a subtle look or layer it on for a more visible (yet still discreet) hue.

What I think:

To begin with I was a little worried when I received this in my Birchbox, I thought the colour was too bright just by looking at it and I didn't think it would last very long at all. I was wrong on all accounts. When applying it to the lips I found it to be a gel consistency, which took a little longer to dry than more water based tints. I thought this was a good thing as it gave you time to smudge the colour if you wanted to. The only negative I have about this product is the fact my lips felt very dry after using and I would then use a lip balm over the top to moisturise them. 

This product apparently can be used on your cheeks too, so it doubles up as a 2 in 1 which is great, I haven't actually used this on my cheeks yet. It lasts quite a long time, however you would need to carry it around with you to reapply throughout the day, but it is much more lasting than a lip stick. 

Would I buy this again? After trying the product for quite a while now any early on worries I had about it have vanished and I actually really like the brand. This is £10 full size to buy and I think as it is so long lasting this is a good price, I will be purchasing it again in the future. 

You can buy this on the Birchbox website: here